What we do
Child Information and Research Center runs a variety of activities to promote the respect for the rights of children and to assist people involved in child rearing with the participation of our members.
| 1) Publication and Information Provision |
| 2) Child Empowerment Programs |
| 3) Regional Support Programs for Networking and Raising Children |
| 4) Research and Enlightenment Activities for Child Advocacy |
1) Publication and Information Provision
• Publication of a monthly magazine “ Harappa ”
“ Harappa ” covers various topics related to children including human rights, child nurturing assistance, child support programs, messages from teenagers, and social issues such as environmental concerns. The purpose of this publication is to develop a society where an equal partnership between children and adults flourishes.
• Other publications
We issue other books and booklets in order to expand new networking and to spread our concept and achievements related to child rearing and the rights of children widely to the society.
(We apologize that all publications are only available in Japanese)
2) Child Empowerment Programs
• Childline OSAKA 0120-99-7777
Childline is a toll-free helpline for children up to 18 years old. There are things that it is easier to speak out on the phone to someone you don't know. So, we hope this would be one of the spaces for children to have a relief by speaking out their opinions, concerns, and whatever they have in mind.
We secure that all information remains confidential and it is not required to inform any name. Childline OSAKA focuses more on listening to the voice of children rather than conducting counseling.
Open every Friday from 4pm-9pm
- Counseling service “Consultation on Child and Family Matters”
Consultation on Child and Family Matters is designed for parents, children, and teachers who need advice about child rearing and problems at schools. We consider the matter with and for children whilst listening to their voice.
Telephone Consultation: 06-6577-1001
Available every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday ( 10am-8pm )
Personal Consultation: Every Thursday (Appointment required)
Call 06-4708-7087 to make appointment ( 9am-5pm on weekdays)
• Teens hotline on a website “Your Voice”
Your voice is a forum for children currently runs on the website at http://www.kojoken.jp/yourvoice/new.htm .
Children can send their opinions and ideas freely through e-mails and our staff will edit and compose them to post on the site.
3) Regional Support Programs for Networking and Raising Children
• “Child Rearing Support Line” 06-6577-1001
Open every Wednesday 10am-8pm
This is a helpline for any matters related to family, raising children and yourself. Professionally trained staff from the citizens will listen to the concerns and find a solution together.
• Communicating space for parents and children ? “Happy Pocket”
Happy Pocket is an open space for parents with babies or small children, couples expecting the first child and anyone who is involved in child rearing assistance. There are a range of events that anyone can participate in held on a regular basis. The objective of Happy Pocket is to build a pleasant and comfortable space for networking together with all participants.
• Childcare group “Momogumi”
Momogumi aims to develop a childcare service which respects the rights of children and encourages networking among children, parents and child care providers. As a part of the activities, we organize seminars and issue newsletters with information about nursing and comments of the activities.
• “Children and Playing Network”
Children and Playing Network is a group consists of people who have considerations about children and recreations. We aim to develop better relationships between children, parents and the community through the recreations that children play on a daily basis. Our activities value not only providing recreations but also to create them together with the participants under the theme of “Catch the Child's Self-Motivated Recreation”. Children and Playing Network published several magazines entitled “Asonde-Kanjite (Feel something from recreations)” which covers various topics related to recreations and children.
• Supporters for child rearing issues “Supporter Net”
Supporter Net is a group formed by voluntary people who had completed the child abuse prevention and child support training program which was sponsored by the Government of Osaka Prefecture. It provides follow-up meetings for members every year and issues newsletters. Advocates of the Supporter Net flexibly perform to prevent child abuses by keeping eyes on the community not to isolate parents and children as well as respecting themselves.
4) Research and Enlightenment Activities for Child Advocacy
We organize seminars and research groups as below:
- Theme-specific research group meetings
The themes include: advocacy for the rights of the child, cooperating relationship for child rearing, living together with children with disabilities, Child's language and life, nurturing body and soul, playing and grouping of babies, child nursing assistance.
- Human rights seminars for education and nurturing
This seminar is for nursery school and kindergarten teachers and staff in charge of child nurturing issues to learn about human rights involved in the early education.
- Introducing lecturers and organizing seminars
We introduce lectures and plan seminars for topics related to children, child nurturing assistance, advocacy for the rights of the child, human rights education, etc.
- Cooperating programs with the local administrations
We also work positively with the local administrations and companies not only having a network with NGOs. Through the cooperation with them, we aim to clarify our unique role and to develop an equal cooperating relationship as the organization which promotes the advocacy for the child and family.
The projects we have done include the advocates training program for child abuse prevention with Osaka Prefecture and child-support volunteers with Osaka City, and a consultation service for students with the board of education of Osaka Prefecture.